Railroad-tie.



W. A. STEPHENS.

`RAILROAD TIE.

, APPLIGATION FILED MAY 24, 1909.

Patented Febi 22, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT l.

W' ma MW L W WILLIAM A. STEPHENS, 0F ABILENE, TEXAS.

RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 24, 1909. Serial No. 497,870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. STE- rHENs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abilene, in the county of Taylor and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Ties, ofl

which the following is a specification in such full and clear terms as will enable those skilled in the art to construct and use the same.

My invention relates to railroad ties, and has for its object to provide in a railroad track supporting device a practically indestructible clamp for the securing of rails, in combination with a corrugated metal tie, such as may be used in the heavier class of railroads, where a solid and simple device may with advantage be utilized, and in which there shall be no bolts, threaded parts, or portions that shall tend to be loosened by the vibrations caused by heavy trains, or the intense strains or stresses due to changes of temperature. Also to provide a simple device that easily and readily may be put securely in place, and as readily removed, with no damage to the parts in removing them.

I accomplish my objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawing, of which- Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of a railroad tie lshowing my securing device in connection therewith; the rail being shown in dotted lines; and the clamp in an open or receptive position; Fig. 2is a similar view with the clamps in closed position; Fig. 3 is a side view of the clamping device; Fig. 4 is an end view showing the clamps closed and the rail in position; Fig. 5 is a cross section of the corrugated tie; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the outer or bifurcated clamp; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the inner or single leg clamp; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of both clamps showing the rail in position; Fig. 9 is a side view of a tie showing the ends turned down.

The same numeral of reference is applied to the same part throughout the various views.

Explaining my invention in detail, l is a corrugated tie made of suitable material, as steel, the central corrugation or rib 2 being a. proximately twice the height of the other ribs. An opening 3 in the rib 2 admits a bar 4, having secured to it at or near its central point a clamp 5 adapted by means of a depression or groove 6 in its inner face to engage and securely retain the bottom flange of a rail 8, (Figs. 3, 4, and 8). An extension 9 of the bar 4 is held in place by the central rib 2, and has an aperture 10 Fig. 7 for the reception of a Cotter 11 (Fig. 2). This cotter not only keeps the clamp tightly and securely in contact with the rail flange by means of its wedge face but provides an easy and ready means by which the clamp can be loosened and drawn apart entirely.

The outer clamp 12 is provided with an extension 14 which is held in the outer end of the central rib 2 and is introduced therein through the opening 3. Said outer clamp 12 is bifurcated andlies on either side of the member 4 of the inner clamp 5, and within the depressions lying between the central rib 2 and the adjacent ribs.

For reinforcing purposes, I provide corrugated base plates 15, lying on the top of my tie and in the corrugations thereof, and immediately under the rail; and I secure the said plates by upsetting portions of the edges as at 16, against the rail, and by the weight of the rail thereon. The tie itself is prevented from moving longitudinally by having its ends bent down as at 17 and 18, Fi

lgn using my tie on a railroad, it is best to support it on a concrete foundation 19, the ends whereof are covered by the turned down portions 17, 18 of the metal tie. But the use of the concrete base is not positively necessary, since my tie is designed to be made of metal of sufficient strength to support the rails without extraneous bracing of any kind. Vhere no concrete base is used, the turned down portions along the sides 20, and edges aforesaid engage with the road bed.

It is to be noted that rib 2 has a space cut out at each end so as to leave room for the rails and clamps, the rails being supported by the other ribs and the clamp members.

I-Iaving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a corrugated tie, stationary clamp members engageable with the ratentedneb. as, icio.

eorrugations, adjustable clamp members i gations, and means for ix'ing the adjustable 10 slidable in the corrugations, a reinforcing clamps in position.

base lying over the tie at the rail Contact, In testimony Whereo'l:I I have set my hand and means for fixing the adjustable clamp this 6th day of May A. D. 1909, in the presmembers in position. ence of the two subscribed Witnesses.

2. In a device of the character specified, WILLIAM A. STEPHENS. stationary clamp members engageable With Witnesses: the corrugations of a corrugated tie, adjust- FRANK P. MEDINA,

able clamp members slidable in said corru- DAVID SOLARI. 

